Flushing tank and valve



Dec. 13, 1949 J, C, OWENS 2,491,130

FLUSHING TANK AND VALVE Filed Dec. 28; 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet l 11 58 BY n /i from/EY- Patented Dec. 13, 1949 UNTED STATE itiTENT FFCE Claims.

My invention relates to a tank and ball cock valve of the particular type used for flushing toilet bowls, urinals and the like and this application should be read and considered in connection with'the ball cock flush valve and storage tank forming the subject matter of my copending application for U. S. Letters Patent, led February l5, 1943, Ser. No. 475,863, now Patent No. 2,412,691.

An object of my present invention is to improve generally upon and simplify the construction of the flushing tank and valve disclosed in my aforesaid copending patent application by combining with a'slmple, practical and inexpensive storage tank, a highly effective ilushing valve of the float controlled ball cock type in such a manner that the combined parts cooperate with maximum efficiency and substantially eliminate the undesirable hissing and gurgling noises which usually attend bowl flushing operations and the refilling of the bowl and storage tank.

Further objects of my invention are: to provide a iiushing tank having an improved goose neck structure, which, in operation, is highly effective in boosting or pulling the stored water from the tank, so as to accomplish the flushing function quickly and eiiectively, to provide a combined flush tank and ball cock valve that will operate with maximum efficiency with either high or low pressure of water supply, and to provide in a device of the character referred to, means for automatically counteracting and breakingV any siphonic conditions that may develop and tend to draw contaminated water into the supply line.

With theforegoing and other objects in view, my invention consists in certain novel features oi construction and arrangement of parts, which will be hereinafter more fully described and claimed and illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 isla plan View of my improved ilush tank and valve.

Fig. 2 is a compound, vertical longitudinal section taken on'the lines 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a compound, vertical cross section taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a detail section taken on the line 4--4 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged vertical section taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is a cross section taken on the line 6 6 of Fig. 5.

Fig. '7 is a cross section taken on the line 1 -'l of Fig. 5.

Fig. 8 is a horizontal section taken on the line E-8 of Fig. 5.

Fig. 9 is a cross section taken on the line 9 5!v of Fig. 3.

Referring by numerals to the accompanying drawings, l designates a conventional flushing tank formed of any suitable material, open at the topand having a water supply pipe Il and a flushing water outflow pipev i2 connected to the tank bottom. Suitably connected tothe supply pipe il is a pipe I3 leading upwardly within the end oi the tank to a duct i5 in a valve housing l which also is provided with an outletduct il, to which is connected the upper end of a depending outflow tube i3.

The outlet end of duct i E and inlet end of duct il are normally closed by a flexible diaphragm lg the edge oi which is clamped between housing I6 and a cap 2d, the latter being provided with a chamber l within which is loosely mounted a piston 22 provided in its periphery with a rubber or leather packing ring :Ethaving a slit or groove adapted to receive water pressure and thereby performthe functions oi'a cup-washer packing.

Under normal conditions water under pressure inV chamber 2i, which passes through registering apertures 2liin diaphragm i9 and piston 22, acts against the latter to hold the diaphragm in position to close the of ducts and l?. (See Fig. 5.)

Formed integral with cap 25% in longitudinal alignment with duct 'l5 is a shorttubular member ille open at its outer end, arranged to slide within said tube is alpiston 25 in which is seated an axial rod 26 which passes throughfan aperture 2l in cap 2i) and thro-ugh registering apertures 24.

An annular seat @la is formed around the end of aperture 2'? and adapted to rest on said sea-t and close Asaid aperture, is a packing ring 25a, seated in the face of valve 25.

Rod 2li is' slightly smaller in diameter than the apertures 2d and 2l and thus the now of water through said apertures is restricted.

Provided at 28 to the outer lower end of tube Eil, is the lower end of a finger 29, in which is seated one end oi a rod fili-carrying a float 3|. A pivoted link 29a connects nger 29 with the end of rod 26 in tube 25a.

The inner edge of iinger 29 is pivoted with notches 32 and 33, one above the other, which notches are adapted to receive the end of a short finger 34 which is carried by a horizontal rod 35 journalled in a bearing` 36- ontube Zlland a bearing 31 in the side wall of tank I9. A handle 38 is mounted on the end of rod 35 outside the tank.

Surrounding the upper end of the outflow tube I8 is the enlarged upper end 39 of a hush tube 4D which surrounds the greater portion of said tube I8, and the upper end of this hush tube is secured to housing I6. A small tube 4| leads from the lower end of a duct d2 formed in the cap 29, the upper end of which duct communicates with the inner end of the chamber in tube 26a; and the l lower end of the tube 4I is arranged to discharge into one of preferably a plurality of air inlet apertures 43 formed in the upper portion of the enlarged upper end 39 of the hush tube.

Secured to housing I6 between the tube I8 and enlarged upper portion 39 of the hush tube, is a short concentric tube 4 of rubber which extends below the -apertures 43, and the lower end of this rubber tube is provided with inner and outer beads 115, which are adapted to make contact with the tubes I8 and 39 as said rubber tube is expanded and contracted by water pressure. Normally the beads d are out of contact with the adjacent walls as seen in Fig. 5.

The wall of tube I8 -within rubber tube 44 is provided with apertures 46 and formed in said wall a short distance below these apertures, are small -apertures 41, immediately above and over which are located internal and external baille rings or shields 48.

Located within tank I0, slightly olset rearwardly from tubes I3 and 40, is a gooseneck or inverted U-shaped tubular member 49, having a vertically disposed leg 58, the lower end of which terminates in a shallow bowl 5I, the outer end of which is located beneath the open lower ends of tubes I3 and 49. The horizontally disposed portion 52 of an L-shaped tubular member '53 is located in bowl 5I with the open end of said member 53 spaced slightly below the open lower end of tube 49, with the open lower end of tube I8 projecting a short distance into the end of said portion 52 and with clearance between said ends.

The vertical leg of member 53 projects upwardly through the vertical leg 50 of the gooseneck Formed integral with the lower end of leg 59 above the center of bowl 5I is a block 51 having vertical apertures 58 and 59, and secured to said block and communicating with aperture 59 is the lower end of one leg of a small inverted U- shaped member 68 the wall of which is provided with small perforations. The lower end of the other leg of member 60 terminates just above aperture 58 and formed in the top of said member is an outlet aperture 6I.

Formed integral with the upper central portion oi goose-neck 49 is the upper end of a depending tube 62, having a central duct 63 and diametrically opposite ducts 64 and 65, (see Fig.

9). At the upper end of tube 62, the three ducts fill and 65 communicate with each other and at the lower end of said tube, said ducts cornrxiunicate with a chamber 66 in extension '56.

The upper portion of a tube 61 is screw seated in a nut 98 in the upper portion of the gooseneck, which tube extends downwardly through duct 63 4 which is slightly larger in diameter than said tube 61.

Formed in the upper portion of tube 61 directly opposite the nozzle 54 is short vertically disposed slot 69 and formed in the lower end of said tube is a discharge aperture 10, below which is an inclined deflector plate 1I.

This aperture 18 is adapted to discharge water laterally into the lower ends of the ducts 63 and 65 (see Fig. 3). The lower ends of ducts 64 and 65 extend a short distance laterally and communicate with the chamber 66 in member 56. The lower portion of said chamber 66 between the discharge end of duct 65 and outflow tube I2, is formed with a. coarse spiral thread or rib I'a so as to impart whirling movement to and thereby, in eifect, accelerate the ow of the water as it passes into said outflow tube.

Seated in the upper portion of the extension E6 above chamber 66 is ashort tube 66b the upper end of which provides a seat for a valve 663., which is carried by the lower end of one of the legs of an inverted U-shaped tube 66d.

The other leg of this tube extends downward to a position adjacent the extension 56 and terminates in a horizontal plane just above the low water level in the tank as shown by dotted line :r in Fig. 3.

Seated in the under side of valve 66c is a ring 69e of rubber, liber or the like, which is adapted to rest on the upper end of tube 66".

Seated in the upper portion of outflow pipe I2 is a spiral bladed deflector 12 carried by an axially disposed tube 13, which passes upward through chamber 66 and tube 66b and into valve 66, said tube 13 being open at both ends. A spirally disposed web or ange 14 is mounted on tube 13 and extends from the upper end of bladed dellector 12 upward through chamber 66, past the discharge ends of ducts 64 and 65, into tube 66.

Secured to the upper or bight portion of tube 56d, is an eye i5 which receives the end of an arm 16 carried by the rod 35, and that portion of the arm 15 which receives the eye is provided with an upper notch 11 and a longer lower notch '58. (See Fig. 4.)

Under normal conditions the water level within the tank occupies the approximate plane indicated by dotted line Z, Fig. 2, with float 3| resting on top of the water, causing the diaphragm I9 to close the ducts I5 and I1, due to water pressure in chamber 2| against piston 22.

Due to the elevated position of the float 3I, the nger 29, acting through link 29a, forces rod 26 and piston 25 inwardly thus maintaining packing ring 25a on its seat 21a thus closing port 21.

To eiect the flushing function handle 38 is swung downward to rock shaft 35, thus swinging linger 3f! upward to engage nger on the eccentric upper edge of notch 33 in nger 29, thus rocking said finger 29 slightly so as to move float 3i below the surface of the water. The finger 29, rod 39 and float 3l are held in their shifted positions as the end of linger 34 comes to rest in notch 32.

As finger 29 is thus rocked, piston 25 is drawn away from seat 21a thus opening port 21 and relieving pressure in chamber 2i, which permits the piston 2i. and the diaphragm I 9 to move away from the ends of the ducts I5 and I1, thereby opening ducts l5 and I1 to permit water from supply pipe I3 to ow through ducts I5 and I I and thence downward through tube IB.

Some of the water thus admitted to the tube I8 After the water level passes below float 3I, thelatter lowers a short distance thereby actuatingv finger iig-:to draw away from the engaged-end of finger Slifrand the latter returns to its normal position under` thev influenceof 'valve tube 65d and arm l5, which parts functionv as counterweights as hereinafter more fully described.

Thewater under pressure flowing downward between tubes I8 and lli discharges from the.

lower end of the latter tube to unite. with the water in the tank, while the water discharging from the lower end of tube. I8 discharges into tube. 52, thence through tube 53, then from nozzle 54 through aperture 69 and flows downward through tube El, to nally discharge through aperture ldnto the lower ends of ducts 53and5.

The action justy described sets up siphonic action through-the gooseneck, so that the water stored in the tankis drawn from bowl I, up through leg 55, thence down through leg 55, into chamber 65, and thence through outow tube I2 to the toilet fixture.

Any water from nozzle 5d which does not enter aperture t9 will unite with the water flowing through. the gooseneck anda portion of. this.A

water will flow down through ducts 64 and 55 and discharge into chamber 65.

rEhe water passing through chamber 66 into outflow tube I2will be given a whirling motion .by the rib or thread 56a also by the spiral deflectors "i2 and 'I' and such whirling motion is effective in bringing about4 a, quick Withdrawal of the flushing.v water from the. tank.

As the waterreaches low level in the tank (the top o bowl 5l), the siphonic action is broken by air entering apertures 58 and 55 which is passed upward through member 56 fand counteracts the gurglingnoisesthat would otherwise develop as the siphonic action is terminated.

Tube extends to the exterior of the gooseneck through the nut 68, and is rotatable by means of a knob die rigid with the upper end of the tube 6l above the gooseneck. The tube 6l should be turned so that aperture 69 receives water direct from the nozzle 54 only when low pressure water supply conditions exist, and when the pressure of the supply is high, said tube is rotated so as to move aperture 69 out of the path of travel of water from said nozzle and So that aperture 'l0 at the lower end of said tube directs the discharge of water away from the dis-charge ends of ducts 655 and 65.

Before lever 38 is tripped, eye 'I5 rests in notch 'il with valve SGC on its seat, the upper end of tube 56h. As rod 35 is rotated and arm 'I6 is raised at the beginning of the flushing function, eye 75 slips out of notch 'Il and drops into the longer notch E8 and when the bottom of the latter notch contacts said eye and lifts same a short distance, tube 55d is correspondingly lifted to unseat valve 56C, thus permitting water from the tank to pass downward lthrough tube 66h and chamber 55 to unite with the water discharging through said chamber into outflow tube I2.

As handle Zie is released after the flushing action has been started the weight of arm 16, tube 56d and valve 66C, rock shaft 35 and thereby re- 65 into the upper, end of tube 66?.'

andas floati 3 I rises on thesurface of thefwater.,

theiaction ofnger 29, link. Zlleand` rod-i25 restores -va1ve25'to its seat 271,1, thus trapping. watch inchamber 22, and aspressurebuilds up there in, piston 22 yacts `to press diaphragm. I9 onto :the: seats varound the,discharge ends of ducts I5and-' il: Pipe di drainswthe water from-chamber in: front .of piston. 25, to `.the Lupper end 'of hush tube-'f Lin.

Fingers .Zi'and valso link 29a, piston'25 and pin- Et, are preferably formed'of stainless steel," plastics or. other non-corrodible and non-rustingmaterial.

ShouldV siphonic conditions develope', tendingto draw contaminated water into the tank,such

conditions will be instantlyand automatically counteracted and broken by air entering the tank and its fittings through tube i3, also through apertures 43; ld-and 4l.

it will be .understood thatminor changes in the size, form andconstructionoffthe various parts of my improvedilushing tank and valve maybe made and substituted for those herein shown and' dx-iscribed,- without departing from the -spirit'of tank, a valve connected to said supply pipe, a.

float for actuating said value, an inverted U- shaped tubular member, means providing a duct from said Valve tothe lower end of one of `th legs of said inverted U-shaped4 tubular member, the,v

other leg of said inverted U-shaped tubular member being connectedto said outflowtube, manually operable means for actuating saidfloat to wall of the inverted U-shaped tubular member, a valve normally clos-ing said opening, and operating connections between said last mentioned valve and said manually-operable float actuating means, which connections include an inverted U-shaped open-ended tube, the lower end of one leg of which is connected to said last mentioned valve.

2. In toilet Xture ilushing apparatus of the character described, a tank, a supply pipe connected thereto, an outflow pipe leading from said tank, a valve connected to said supply pipe, a float for actuating said valve, an inverted U- shaped tubular member, means providing a duct from said valve to the lower end of one of the legs of said inverted U-shaped tubular member, the other leg of said inverted U-shaped tubular member being connected to said outflow tube, manually operable means for actuating said ioat to open said valve, there being an opening in the wall of the inverted U-shaped tubular member above said outiiow tube, a valve normally closing said opening, and operating connections between said last mentioned valve and said manually-operable float-actuating means, which connections include an inverted U-shaped openended tube, an eye carried thereby, and an arm having a pair of notches, one disposed above the other, for receiving said eye.

3. In toilet fixture flushing apparatus of the open said valve, there being an opening in the character described, a tank, a supply pipe connected thereto, an outflow pipe leading from said tank, a valve connected to said supply tank, a oat for actuating said valve, an inverted U- shaped tubular member, means for providing a duct from said valve to the lower end of one of the legs of said inverted U-shaped tubular member, the other leg being connected to said outflow tube, a tube connecting the upper, central portion of said inverted U-shaped tubular member with the lower portion of the leg thereof which is connected to the outflow tube, a tube mounted for rotation in said connecting tube and provided in its upper portion with an inlet opening, and means providing a duct leading from the lower end of the duct which leads from the valve to the lower end of one of the legs of said inverted U- shaped member upwardly to the upper portion of said inverted U-shaped member for discharging water into the inlet opening in said rotatively mounted tube.

4. In a iiushing apparatus, a tank having an inlet and an outlet for water, an inverted U- shaped tubular siphon member within said tank having one end connected with said outlet and the other end opening into said tank, connections from said inlet to said open end of said Siphon member, means for directing water from said connections upwardly through said open end of said siphon member to induce siphonic action, supplementary means for inducing siphonic action within said siphon member, said supplementary means comprising a tube extending downwardly within said tank and having its lower end opening within said end of said siphon member which is connected to said tank outlet, said lower end of said tube being in position to jet water issuing therefrom toward said outlet and thereby supplement siphonic action within said siphon member, and means for directing water under pressure from said inlet into the upper portion of said tube.

5. In a flushing apparatus, a tank having an inlet and an outlet for water, an inverted U- shaped tubular Siphon member within said tank having one end connected with said outlet and the other end opening into said tank, connections from said inlet to said open end of said siphon member, means for directing Water from said connections upwardly through said open end of said siphon member to induce siphonic action, supplementary means for inducing siphonic action within said Siphon member, said supplementary means comprising a tube mounted in said siphon member for rotary movement about its own axis and extending downwards from position within the upper portion of said siphon member and having its lower end opening within said end of said siphon member which is connected to said tank outlet, said tube having an opening therein adjacent its upper end within said upper portion of said Siphon member, means for directing water under pressure from said inlet toward the upper end of said tube, means for rotating said tube to move said opening adjacent the upper end thereof optionally into or out of position to receive water from said directing means, and means associated with the lower end of said tube for jetting water issuing therefrom towards said outlet to supplement siphonic action within said Siphon member.

JESSE C. OWENS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 904,228 Richardson Nov. 17, 1908 1,625,311 Gondolf Apr. 19, 1927 1,839,424 Tracey Jan. 5, 1932 1,984,394 Candee Dec. 18, 1934 2,213,753 Teahen Sept. 3, 1940 2,228,552 Arbogast Jan. 14, 1941 2,230,285 Collison Feb. 4, 1941 2,240,102 Textor Apr. 29, 1941 2,412,691 Owens Dec. 17, 1946 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 460,847 Germany June 6, 1928 

